This week, Americans and Iraqis mark that fifth anniversary of the US lead coalition that toppled the brutal 24 year dictatorship of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Special thanks to COL Gibbs, LTC Crider, LTC Watson and Major Luedeke for graciously hosting me with Task Force Dragon while in Iraq.

“It’s time we started viewing Iraq as an ally, not an enemy.” Lieutenant Colonel James Crider could not have spoken truer words as we ate a traditional Iraqi meal in the home of Dr. Mouyad. The doctor is a progressive community leader in Doura who is helping politically reconcile and rebuild war- torn Baghdad mullahas in cooperation with Coalition Forces.

Special thanks to CPT Smith, LT Acosta, CPT Reinke, TSGT Anthony, TS Huffey and A1C Callaway for the bird’s eye view of Baghdad.

Reporting from Doura

Doura is located in Rasheed, a district in southern Baghdad, and before the Surge was a case study on insurgency and asymmetrical warfare.

Reporting from a U.S. military base in Kuwait

Private Ryan is a name most Americans associate with Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning picture about a fictional paratrooper from the 101st Airborne Division; his three brothers are tragically killed in WW II and General George C. Marshall orders a grieving mother’s last son to be returned home from France.

Recently, a friend sent me this judicious quote by General George S. Patton, “War is just like boxing. When you get your opponent on the ropes you must keep punching the hell out of him and not let him recover.”

2008 is the year to keep fighting.